SALUTE is on!

ATTENTION! Almost time for our annual return to SALUTE! The UK's largest wargaming event this Saturday 11th April at its usual Excel Convention Centre home in London's Docklands. 

I've been going a few years now and although comics are clearly not the focus of the convention, I've found there's a lot of overlap with gamers and I've received a warm welcome with genuine interest in my publications.

New batch of ZULU Graphic Novel Sketch & Print Packs!

The convention itself, with a new committee, have noticeably upped their game in the time I've been attending, widening the event's appeal to embrace the many new and varied aspects of the hobby and attracting a larger and younger audience which can only be a good thing. 

At last year's SALUTE! - Modelling our TJ16 location!

This year, I return as Colin Mathieson Comics to TJ16 marked by the red circle on the plan below - don't worry if its a bit small to see, I'm close to the central boulevard and there's of course a larger map in the event programme!

Hope to see some of you there :)

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On This Day.......A King's Legacy!

Today being the 147th anniversary of dramatic events in Zululand & Natal, I'm pleased to confirm my participation in a forthcoming community day honouring the spirit, history and heritage of 1879.

The event is hosted by our friends and trustees of the Royal Welsh Museum at Brecon Barracks where the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot - later the South Wales Borderers - who served in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 were based.

I've been lucky enough to visit the remarkable museum there several times over the years most recently for their Goodwill Zulu Festival of two years ago which was a memorable day.   

Members of the Zulu Royal Family were in attendance with a guard of honour and drill presentations from longtime re-enactment chums the Die Hards. Zulu dance and music troupe led by Busi Mhlanga , a Welsh Male Voice Choir (from Aberhonddu I believe) and lots of other attractions and activities including yours truly all ably compared by Glyn Baker (son of  the ZULU movie produce Stanley, no less) and historian John Young among others.

It was quite something I'll be honest, being able to discuss and present my ZULU: Water Cart Rescue graphic novel to HRH Princess Zama-Zulu Shange and Glyn Baker and celebrate a shared heritage and connection of echoes past amongst so many like minded people.

I'll certainly be looking forward to making a return trip to Brecon this March to re-connect with so many of the fine folks who were there and see what new adventures await.  

The fabulous Beatrice & Busi showcasing my work!

Buxton Bonus!

A catch up at Sale led to joining the line up for the Sunday's Buxton Comic-Con! The event and others of organiser, Steven Howard, has been on my radar for a while but for various reasons dates or logistics didn't quite work out, so having a free day, was delighted to attend.

Buxton's only an hour or so from home so a delightful and scenic drive got me there in good time to set up with pleasant surprise of being next to actor Willie Coppen who's featured in many fine movies including Star Wars, Return of the Jedi, Willow, Snow White and the Witcher TV series amongst many he can't yet talk about! I've met Willie a couple of times in recent years and he's always great company.

It turned out to be a very enjoyable day, a slow start but the mild weather brought folk out and being free entry, there was a steady stream of visitors keen to chat and browse comics alongside the many other attractions and traders. 

My ZULU graphic novel generated a lot of interest and chats as it tends to do with folk who like me,  the movie had resonated with, and I ended up selling out of the hardback copies I'd taken which was encouraging, several being bought for gifts as 'hard to buy for' dads!

A fun day out and glad to finally get to one of Steven's events, hopefully I'll get to another before too long, unless that pesky dinosaur gets me - I don't think he Sawaurus!

ZULUS in Warrington!

 

With everything going on I forgot to let you know that my ZULU:Water Cart Rescue graphic novel is  available at Scott's comic shop in Warrington, Cheshire; Scott's Pop's & Comics in both standard (£12) and signed 'n' sketched print packs (£15) (plus applicable postage).

The above photos were taken on their first day in store and their prominent display attracted a lot of attention as they've now almost gone - Santa and quite a few folk were giving these as Christmas presents this year to the Zulu fans in their families!

Don't worry though, we're arranging a restock so if you're local, why not pop in for a browse or if further afield, message Scott through his Facebook page or leave a message below and we'll take it from there :)

Thanks for everyone's support and interest and don't forget, Channel 4 are showing the movie that started it all this Sunday afternoon, New Year's Eve!

New Comic Incoming!!!!

Yes, the rumours are true, the new colour edition of my long out of print 'cult comic classic' returns in a swanky new edition in glorious colour from Matt Soffe!

I could and will say more, but its quite a journey and true to the end I'm dashing off for its debut appearance this weekend at the previously mentioned SALUTE wargaming show! So will leave it there for now, but yes I'm totally pleased with it, finally! :)

New Events Incoming!

Aha, as promised, I've updated the 2023 'tour' schedule with a few of the confirmed events for this year, some new and some very, very exciting, including this Saturday's Salute Wargaming show, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary!

This follows my debut there at Salute's previous show, way back in 2021! I really enjoyed the experience, even if they were clearly a little subdued given the covid situation we were all in at the time and indoor events were only really slowly emerging. Sensibly, they opted out of 2022 to allow the new committee time to fully plan their anniversary event so here we are. This year I return to table TE05 and hopefully we'll experience the full Salute in all its glory, if only I'd something new out.........

Colin's Comics Come to Chester!

Hot on the MCM London news is confirmation that I'll also be attending Chester Comic-Con for the very first-time this coming Father's Day, Sunday 19th June 2022!

I'm quite excited about this as it's a local one at the iconic Chester racecourse with a good reputation but although in it's 4th (or even 5th?) year, the dates have always clashed with something, so I've never been able to go before.

I've previously lived and worked close to Chester so used to know it fairly well including it's own Comic shop which helped keep me sane when I first moved down from Scotland all those years ago, so it'll be cool to finally showcase my own comic creations there.

The event appears to be a fun family geared one with a carefully curated small number of pop culture and comic artist guests and attractions so there's something for everyone. With it being Father's Day too, promises to be a fun day out, hopefully see some of you there!

Don't forget to wave if you see me at Chester!

 

Late in the evening

The sky and surroundings of Rorke's Drift late in the evening of the 22nd January 1879 bear the scars of the day's intense fighting. Tired, desperate with everything hanging in the balance, the battle's outcome is far from clear. 

A couple of quiet but tense panels from my forthcoming re-mastered Zulu Water Cart Rescue comics, art by me, colours by Matt Soffe.

22-1-22

 

22nd January always resonates being the anniversary of both the Battles of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift back in 1879 which had a profound impact on the Zulu Nation which still echoes today, 143 years on. Certainly in recent years, the Zulus themselves have taken their own history centre stage and commemorate their ancestors victory at iSandlwana with memorial services, speeches, re-enactments in an almost celebratory fashion.

I  was lucky enough to witness this for myself on the memorable 140th anniversary battlefields trip three years ago where, with a small group of intrepid adventurers we toured and explored various significant sites in deepest Zululand paying our own respects as invited guests, (as part of historian Ian Knight's group) at iSandlwana and a more intimate affair at Rorke's Drift, both attended by the UK's splendid Die Hards, re-enactment group.

I treasure these memories and the moments spent chatting with Zulu, South African and British travellers all of whom paid their respects to those fallen all those years ago, which I do so again today and remembering those who, since that trip, are no longer with us.